Unlike last year when we only got about 3 tomatoes, a few zuccinis, and nothing else but cucumbers, this year's crop is looking very promising. We have about 20 medium-sized tomatoes on the vine, which should be ready in the next week or so. Brooklynne harvested about 10 large cucumbers yesterday (that had grown from too small to pickle to too large, while we were gone). She also picked one bell pepper and we have 4 more that will be ready soon. Our carrots look good, although they are still far from eating size. The basil and cilantro are still growing like weeds and we have harvested lettuce from our two plants twice already each, and they seem to be going strong. But the most surprising and exciting discovery in the garden on our return was 7 or 8 cantaloupes and 4 watermelons that have appeared out of the blue.

We did not plant broccoli, squash, or peas this year. Maybe we should have tried broccoli and peas again, but they were such a dud that we didn't feel very motivated. Our zuccini attracted grubs, which I have heard are impossible to get rid of, so we tried the watermelon instead, hoping that the grubs would not be interested. So far, so good. We also planted corn last year, but we couldn't keep kona from eating it, so that went by the wayside too.

I think the main difference in the garden, though, has been the level of rain we have gotten this year. Last year, we watered ALOT--I mean we watered until I was sure we were the cause of the extreme water shortage. We also used the miracle grow spray-on fertilizer. This year, I've only used fertilizer once because there haven't been days when it was dry enough that I felt I really needed to water much. I think we are still under water restrictions, but I would guess that we have to be close to normal capacity in our reserves, right?

I just can't wait until one saturday morning I can wake up early and walk out in the garden, pluck a cantaloupe right from the vine and sit on the porch and eat it on the spot. How nice will that be?